Abstract [en]

Freshwater mussels (Unionoida) may have been substantially reduced in Sweden as well as the whole world. Earlier studies show that the species Margaritifera margaritifera and Unio crassus has been substantially reduced and there are several localities with no reproduction in Sweden and in several other parts of the world. Other species of freshwater mussels in Sweden have not been studied very much and the focus of studies in Sweden has been on the species existence, not their reproduction. The purpose with this study is to examine the existence of reproduction of different kind of freshwater mussels in the water systems Tidan, Lidan and Mariedalsån in Sweden. Seven localities were choosing selective for the study to represent some of the best localities in the water systems. The freshwater mussels were studied on the bottom and in the sediment. The lengths of mussels were measured and the winter rings were counted to estimate the age of the mussels. The result of this study point on a very bad reproduction in several localities even with the most common species in Sweden and the diversity of species are low in the water systems Tidan, Lidan and Mariedalsån. These localities were supposed to represent some of the best localities in the water systems and because of that the result of the bad reproduction is very concerning. More studies of the reproduction of freshwater mussels even the more common species is recommended in Sweden and other countries of the world.